Refrigeration



C. T. ASHBY REFRIGERATION July 22, 1941.

Filed Dec. 3, 1936 Patented July 22, 1941 REFRIGERATION Carl T. Ashby,Evansville Inc., New York, N. Y.,

ware

, Ind., assignor to Servel, a corporation of Dela- Application December3, 1936, Serial No. 113,979

6 Claims.

My invention relates to absorption type refrigeration apparatus and itis an object of the invention to provide in such apparatus an improvedgenerator or boiler Structure for better utilization of combustion heatas will appear from the following description and accompanying drawingin which the single figure shows schematically a refrigeration systemembodying the invention.

The system illustrated is generally like that described in Patent2,037,782 to William R. Hainsworth and is made up of a number of steelvessels and pipes welded together to form an hermetically sealed system.All the spaces of the system are in open and unrestricted communi-'cation so that all parts are at the same total pressure. The systemcontains hydrogen and a Water solution of ammonia. Other suitable fluidsmay be used. The parts of the system include a generator ill, acondenser II, anevaporator I2, and an absorber l3. The evaporator I2 islocated in a refrigerator storage compartment ll. The condenser ii andthe absorber |3 are cooled by air. The generator I is heated by akerosene burner IS in a manner hereinafter described- Other suitableheaters utilizing combustion of fuel may be used, such as, for instance,a gas burner or oil burner.

Briefly, the operation of the system is as follows:

Ammonia vapor expelled from solution by heat in generator i0 flowsthrough a conduit l6 to the condenser II where the ammonia vapor iscondensed to liquid. The liquid ammonia flows from the condenser througha conduit |'I into the evaporator i2. Hydrogen circulates through andbetween the evaporator l2 and the absorber it by way of a gas heatexchanger l8. In the evaporator the liquid ammonia evaporates anddiffuses into the hydrogen, producing a refrigeration effect. In theabsorber l3 ammonia vapor is absorbed out of the rich gas by weakenedabsorption solution. The gas circulation between the evaporator and theabsorber occurs as the result of the difference in weights of thecolunms of rich and weak gas, the column of gas flowing from theevaporator to the absorber, and containing the greater amount of theheavier ammonia vapor, being heavier than the column of weak gas flowingfrom the absorber to the evaporator. .lated through and between thegenerator l6 and The absorption solution is circuthe absorber l3 by wayof a liquid heat exchanger l9 and circulation of the solution is causedby the lifting action of vapor formed in a chamber 21 of the generatorwhich raises liquid through a riser 2| into the generator standpipe 22where the liquid level is such that solution overflows therefrom intothe absorber.

Referring now more particularly to the generator iii, a substantiallyhorizontal portion 23 is formed by a horizontally elongated closedcylindric l vessel provided at one end with a vapor dome 24- and nearthe other end with an internal partition 25 dividingthe vessel 23 into achamber 26 and a second chamber 21. The lower end of the standpipe 22 isconnected by a, conduit 28 to the. chamber 26. The conduit 26 is shownlocated insideof the horizontal vessel 23 for the purpose of conservingheat but it may be located outside. A conduit 29 is connected to thechamber 21 for conducting enriched absorption solution flowing from theabsorber through the liquid heat exchanger to the generator. Chamber 21is therefore referred to as the strong solution chamber. A conduit 30 isconnected to the chamber 26 for conducting weakened solution from thegenerator toward the absorber. Chamber 26 is therefore referred to asthe weak solution chamber. The strong solution chamber 21 is connectedby the riser 2| to the upper part of the standpipe 22. The lower end ofthe riser 2| projects downward through the dome 2'4 and into the chamber21, the riser being open at its lower end in this chamber. The lowerpart of the riser 2| is provided with a hole 3| within the dome 24. Thehorizontal portion of the generator is surrounded by a casing forming aflue 32. The forward or burner end of the casing forming the flue 32 isopen at the bottom beneath the forward end of the weak solution chamber26. The burner I5 is located directly beneath the forward end of theweak liquid chamber 26 and a removable heat insulated hood 33 provides apassage for heat from the burner into the forward end of the flue 32.The generator is suitably insulated, as by mineral wool retained by asheet metal casing 34. 4

The weak liquid chamber 26 being directly over the burner l5 receivesheat directly from the burner by radiation in addition to being heated,as is the remainderof the horizontal portion of the generator, by thehot flue gases created by combustion at the burner. By thus placing theweak liquid chamber 26 directly in line with the burner flame and thustransferring radiant heat directly from the burner to this chamber,there is obtained greater efficiency between the burner made within thescope of the invention which is not limited to the embodiment shown. anddescribed but only as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Absorption refrigenation apparatus including a generator having ahorizontally elongated portion, a partition forming a Weak solutionchamber in one end of said portion, a casing forming a flue around saidhorizontal portion, a burner arranged so that the flame is projectedupwardly into one end of said fiue, and said weak solution chamber beinglocated directly above said burner.

2. An absorption refrigeration system having a plurality of portionswhich receive heat for causing refrigerant vapor to be expelled fromabsorption liquid contained in said portions, said heat receivingportions being located substantially side by side in a horizontal line,an upright liquid fuel burner, means forming a passage for transfer ofheat from said upright liquid fuel burner to said heat receivingportions, one of said heat receiving portions being located so that itabsorbs heat transferred thereto directly by radiation from the burner,and connections for flow of absorption liquid first through another ofsaid heat receiving portions and then through said heat receivingportion subjected to radiant heat from the burner.

3. An absorption refrigeration system as set forth in claim 2 in whichsaid passage forming means is a substantially horizontal fluesurrounding said heat receiving portions, and said heat" receivingportion which is subjected to radiant heat from the burner is locateddirectly above the burner in the lower end of said flue.

4. An absorption refrigeration system as set forth in claim 2 in whichsaid connections include a standpipe projecting above said heatreceiving portions of the system, and a conduit from said standpipe tosaid one heat receiving portion, which conduit extends throughabsorption liquid in another of said heat receiving portions to effectconservation of heat.

5. An absorption refrigeration system as set forth in claim 2 in whichsaid passage forming means is a flue encompassing said heat receivingportions of the system, said burner is a kerosene burner, and said oneheat receiving portion of the system is located directly over saidkerosene burner at the lower end of said flue.

6. An absorption refrigeration system having a plurality of portionswhich receive heat by which refrigerant vapor is expelled fromabsorption liquid contained in said portions, and

conduit means providing connections for flow of absorption liquid from afirst of said heat receiving portions to a second of said heat receivingportions so that liquid in said second heat receiving portion is at alower concentration, and vapor is expelled therefrom at a highertemperature than in said first heat receiving portion,

v said conduit means also providing conduits for conducting vapor fromsaid heat receiving portions, the conduit for conducting vapor from saidsecond heat receiving portion extending through absorption liquid insaid first heat receiving portion for conservation of heat.

CARL T. ASHBY.

